Objectives: To assess the frequency of atherosclerotic lesion in carotid arteries in patients with coronary risk factors and there by provide awareness in patients to modify their risk factors and subsequently reduced the fatal outcome of cardiovascular accident.
Methodology: A prospective observational study was done between June 2005 to 2008 in the institute of nuclear medicine and ultrasound Dhaka, Bangladesh. Study group consisted with in 550 population, out of them 350 patients have documented cardiovascular risk factors , treated as case and rest 150 sample have taken as control with age range from 40-60 with mean age 53.48+/ 1.89 years. Maximum and mean maximum IMT of carotid arteries were assessed by B- mode ultrasound with the use of the electronic caliper of the machine in real time.
Result: The mean IMT values in ICA significantly higher in-patient with coronary risk than in controls (0.88±0.14 mm vs 0.62± 0.1, p =0.001). Atherosclerotic plaque was detected in 45% in patient group absent in control group.
Conclusion: These observations established a strong correlation between real time B-mode imaging of Carotid atherosclerosis evaluated in normal clinical practice. This simple reading technique as a means of identifying IMT may be another possible risk factor in patients at high risk for cardio-vascular disease.